21 Oct 2018

A representative from Local Entrepreneurial Authority (LEA), Mr Kereemang Moilwa has raised concern that despite their office having been opened in Molepolole for over a decade, upcoming business people, including beneficiaries of various poverty eradication projects, are underutilising it.

Speaking at a poverty eradication market day at Letlhakeng on October 19, Mr Moilwa said this was despite the fact that they had always been encouraging people, especially small, medium and micro entrepreneurs to consult their offices when they were starting a business.

He said they had numerous services tailored for upcoming businesses such as assistance on market survey and analysis, business proposals and training on record keeping.

Mr Moilwa also listed short courses they offered such as entrepreneurship development, sales and marketing and business planning which were vital for upcoming business people

“I would, therefore, like to advise you to register with us so that we could be able to assist you with such basics.

 We also do project visits even when the business is in operation to offer our advice,” he said.

Mr Moilwa also said research had indicated that only five per cent of business people were born while the rest were self-made, something he said should be an encouragement to those who grew up in families with no business history. He said all that was required was self-determination, financial discipline and creativity among others for one to succeed in business. 

He also encouraged upcoming business people to make it a habit of attending events such as shows as a way of seeking knowledge, and that challenges were a daily routine in a business person’s life.

For his part, the District Poverty Eradication coordinator, Mr Gaotlhobogwe Kwelagobe said the intention of poverty eradication market days were to expose government initiatives to the rest of the people through parading some of the success stories.

He said it was on top of giving beneficiaries exposure to the large market. He, therefore, said it was vital that beneficiaries take such initiatives seriously so that they would be a testimony that such initiatives could help one sustain themselves.

Mr Kwelagobe also said such market days were meant to help sustain beneficiaries through the sharing of ideas. One of the beneficiaries, Ms Bonyana Moseenyane, who runs a backyard garden at Khudumelapye, encouraged other poverty eradication beneficiaries to treat their projects like their would white collar jobs and ensure that they do not stay away from them for too long.

She indicated that she started small until she grew with the assistance and support of the Department of Crop Production, and that one of the factors that contributed to her growth was the consistent attendance of agricultural shows.

She said so far she has managed to build a house through the proceeds from her project and encouraged other beneficiaries to take their projects seriously. Ms Moseenyane also castigated beneficiaries who were always crying for assistance even for small things that they could do for themselves. ENDS